Systems and processes employing wet/dry suction filter

ABSTRACT

Water or wastewater filtration systems and processes have a filter tank having a floor and sidewall defining a filtration zone, an influent conduit, and an effluent conduit. One or more filtration members in the tank having filter media, and one or more cleaning members adjacent at least some portions of the filter media. Generating an effluent stream by generating a pressure differential across submerged portions of the filtration media, causing water in the influent to flow from outside to inside the submerged portions of the filter media. A prime mover rotates the filtration members. A blower and chamber for creating a reduced pressure condition in each of the cleaning members when they are non-submerged, the chamber receiving wet solids removed from non-submerged, wet solids-laden portions of the filter media by the non-submerged cleaning members subsequent to submerged, fouled portions of the filter media being rotated out of the filtration zone.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is entitled to and claims the benefit of earlier filedprovisional application Ser. No. 62/837,490, filed Apr. 23, 2019, under35 U.S.C. § 119(e), which earlier filed provisional application isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to systems and processes for water andwastewater filtration. In particular, the present disclosure relates tosystems and processes featuring one or more filtration members that maybe operated partially or fully submerged, and subsequently cleaned whenpartially submerged.

Background Art

At current time, disk filters typically applied to watertreatment/purification typically are available in one of two forms asdescribed below. The majority of the existing innovation relates to thedesign of backwash shoes or sprayers that are used to clean the filtermedia either by backwashing under suction with filtrate or pressurewashing with filtrate.

One system may be described as a partially submerged, pressure wash,“mesh” screen (flat, woven, media), disk filter. In these systems thefilter media is partially submerged, and the portion that is notsubmerged is subjected to pressure washing to clean the mesh or wirefabric (cloth) filters. These filters operate with the active filtermedia partially submerged and filter “inside to outside” withcontaminants collecting on the inside of the filter disks. Whenbackwashed or regenerated, the disks are rotated, and the exposed(non-submerged) portion of the disks are pressure washed from theexterior to dislodge the solids which are collected in an interiortrough for removal from the system. These filters must backwash“through” the media from clean side to dirty side to regenerate.

Other available and known systems may be described as fully submerged,flooded suction, cloth/pile media, disk (or drum type) filters. Thesefilters operate with the active filter media fully submerged and filter“outside to inside” with contaminants collecting on the outside of thefilter disk or drum cloth media coated surfaces. When backwashed orregenerated, the disks are rotated (such as employed in commercialsystems known under the trade designations AQUADISK and AQUADRUM) orbackwash heads are actuated (such as employed in commercial systemsknown under the trade designations ISO-DISC, FIVE STAR, NEXOM INFINI-D)and the fully submerged disks are vacuumed with reverse water flow offiltered water from the interior of the disk by a solids handling waterpump with the collected solids being pumped from the system.

One disadvantage of the currently available filtration systems andprocesses is that a portion of the filtered product must backflowthrough the filter media to ‘backwash’ the filter media and removeaccumulated solids. The volume of backwash water is a paramountindicator of filter efficiency with less being considered better as thebackwash volume requires additional handling and treatment. Anotherdisadvantage is that in the “inside to outside” filtration systems,backwash can only be accomplished by pumping filtrate under pressurefrom the outside to the inside, and in “outside to inside” filtrationsystems, the backwash occurs by use of submerged, liquid backwash shoesconnected to the suction side of a pump which draws filtered waterthrough the filter media while the filter media is submerged. Yetanother disadvantage of pile cloth media filters, which always operatein the outside—inside filtration path as described above, is that theyexperience a significant hydraulic force of compression due to forwardflow and cloth media blinding as it becomes clogged with solids. As aresult of the described force, existing filters must overcome the effectof this force to effectively backwash. This includes a backwash volumeequivalent to or greater than the forward flow which has a net negativeinfluence on the backwash rate. A second detrimental effect of thehydraulic force a submerged filter experiences is “waffling” orsuppression of the cloth media into the open spaces of the support framethe material typically sits on. This creates recessed nooks which allowuntreated water to short circuit the backwash process and reduce theeffectiveness of the backwash pump while increasing backwash volumes.

Still other inefficiencies in current filter configurations, whetherinside-outside filtration or outside-inside filtration, may be noted.With filters of inside-outside filtration paths, the filters arebackwashed by pressure wash from the clean side of the media with theremoved solids falling into an interior ‘rain gutter’ for removal. Whilemuch of the backwash water is collected in the gutter for removal fromthe system, it is inevitable that some of the backwash water with solidsruns down the interior of the disk cavity and/or falls or splattersoutside of the trough to commingle with the influent and are eventuallyre-filtered, accelerating the frequency of backwash events andincreasing the overall backwash volume. With filters of outside-insidedesign, there is typically a series of cleaning shoes which are cycledthrough in sequence to backwash a filter. Often only a portion of thebackwash shoes are under hydraulic suction while the entire mechanicaldevice including backwash shoes not under suction is energized to moveacross the filter media. The non-backwashing (not under suction)cleaning shoes remain on the soiled cloth media which remains underforward hydraulic feed and act as a squeegee against the clothdisplacing solids from the cloth into the feed but also breaking downand forcing solids through the cloth media and into the effluent causinga reduction in effluent quality.

Current filter designs function with either a near flat, mesh type media(partially submerged, inside to outside, pressure wash backwash) or‘pile’ cloth media (fully submerged, outside to inside, submergedsuction to clean. It would therefore be advantageous to provide systemsand processes permitting the use of all media types (wire cloth, wiremesh, polymer mesh, pile cloth, woven cloth, felt, and other “deep” or“flat/thin”medias with an outside-inside filtration path and directcleaning of the fouled side of the media. It would further beadvantageous to provide systems and processes where mechanical contactand level of ‘suction’ engagement may be managed to not damage or reducedamage to typically frail, flat finer pore size medias (such as felt orthin wire mesh). It would be further advantageous to provide systems andprocesses exhibiting reduced backwash volumes, improved dewatering,multiple process applications, absolute pore size filtration, stagedfiltration (for example 100 micron belt, 10 micron nominal pile cloth, 1micron felt) using substantially the same machine design. It wouldfurther be advantageous to provide systems and processes offeringpartial and gradual additional submergence as head levels in the filtertank increase due to solids build up on the cloth. It would further bean advance in the art if systems and processes were provided that couldhandle upset conditions that may cause (in conventional filters) suddenand rapid increase in solids loading due to upset upstream processes.

It would further be advantageous to provide systems and processesemploying reduced piping, reduced valve sizes, reduced power, andreduced related equipment foot print compared with presently availablesystems, and which may eliminate the need for freeze protection.

As may be seen, current practice may not be adequate for allcircumstances, and may result in one or more deficiencies as notedabove. There remains a need for more robust filtration systems andprocesses. The systems and processes of the present disclosure aredirected to these needs.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present disclosure, systems and processes aredescribed which reduce or overcome many of the faults of previouslyknown systems and processes.

A first aspect of the disclosure are systems, one system embodimentcomprising (or consisting essentially of, or consisting of) a water orwastewater filtration system comprising:

a) a filter tank having a floor and sidewall defining a filtration zone,an influent conduit and an effluent conduit (it will be understood thatthere may, in certain embodiments, be more than one influent conduit andmore than one effluent conduit);

b) one or more filtration members positioned in the filter tank, the oneor more filtration members and the filter tank comprising a filter unit,each of the one or more filtration members comprising a filter mediathat may be the same or different;

c) one or more cleaning members positioned adjacent, or positionableadjacent, at least some portions of the filter media;

d) the filter unit configured to produce, either by gravity-drivenhydraulic head, one or more pumps, or both, an effluent stream bygenerating sufficient pressure differential across submerged portions ofthe filter media to force water from an influent water or wastewatercomposition to flow from outside to inside the submerged portions of thefilter media and into the effluent conduit;

e) a prime mover (for example, wind, solar, electric motor, with a chainand sprocket configuration) for rotating the one or more filtrationmembers; and

f) a blower and chamber for creating a reduced pressure condition ineach of the one or more cleaning members when adjacent non-submergedportions of the filter media, the chamber configured to receive wetsolids removed from non-submerged, wet solids-laden portions of thefilter media by the one or more cleaning members subsequent tosubmerged, fouled portions of the filter media being rotated out of thefiltration zone.

In certain embodiments the filtration members may comprise a singlefilter drum, while in certain other embodiments the filtration membersmay comprise one or more filter disks. In certain embodiments thesystems may comprise two or more filters, for example, two or morefilters having substantially the same filter media arranged in parallelflow relationship, or two or more filters having the same or differentfilter media arranged in series flow relationship, or combinations ofparallel and series arrangements. In certain filter drum embodiments, asingle cleaning member may be employed. In certain disk filterembodiments there may be a single cleaning member on each side of eachfilter disk, whereas in other embodiments one or more filter disks mayhave two or more cleaning members on a first side of the filter disks,and one or more cleaning members on a second side of the filter disks.Embodiments are also contemplated where the filter disks are allsubstantially the same size in width and radius.

A second aspect of the disclosure are processes for treating water orwastewater, one process embodiment comprising (or consisting essentiallyof, or consisting of):

a) flowing an influent water composition comprising water and solidsinto the filter tank;

b) producing an effluent stream by generating a pressure differentialacross submerged portions of the one or more filtration members, causingwater in the influent water composition to flow from outside to insidethe submerged portions of the one or more filtration members;

c) rotating the one or more filtration members so that wet, solids-ladensubmerged portions of the one or more filtration members becomenon-submerged, wet, solids-laden filtration member portions; and

-   -   d) removing wet solids from at least some of the non-submerged,        wet, solids-laden filtration member portions by reducing        pressure in the one or more non-submerged cleaning members.

Certain process and system embodiments of this disclosure may operate inmodes selected from the group consisting of automatic continuous mode,automatic periodic mode, and manual mode. In certain embodiments the oneor more operational equipment may include prime movers selected from thegroup consisting of pneumatic, electric, fuel, hydraulic, andcombinations thereof. It will also be appreciated that in certainembodiments, one or more of the one or more cleaning members may alsomove, and this movement may be before, during, or after the rotation ofthe filter media, and may be continuous, periodic, or oscillatory. Thedirection of movement of the cleaning members in drum filter embodimentsis not limited, and, for example may be, but is not limited totransverse, longitudinal, or other orientation to the drum longitudinalaxis. Direction of movement of cleaning members in disk filterembodiments may be radial, either away from or toward the disk center(or both), or translational across the disk surface in any number ofdirections or patterns (random or non-random).

These and other features of the systems and processes of the presentdisclosure will become more apparent upon review of the briefdescription of the drawings, the detailed description, and the claimsthat follow. It should be understood that wherever the term “comprising”is used herein, other embodiments where the term “comprising” issubstituted with “consisting essentially of” are explicitly disclosedherein, and vice versa. It should be further understood that whereverthe term “comprising” is used herein, other embodiments where the term“comprising” is substituted with “consisting of” are explicitlydisclosed herein, and vice versa. Moreover, the use of negativelimitations is specifically contemplated; for example, certain systemsmay include a cleaning composition supply vessel, supply conduit, andone or more spray nozzles, while other systems may be devoid of thesefeatures. In certain embodiments the filter media may be devoid offilter cloth. As another example, a system may be devoid of a pump, aninfluent weir, or sludge handling features for removal of sludge thatmay build up in the bottom of the filter tank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The manner in which the objectives of this disclosure and otherdesirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the followingdescription and attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a high-level schematic diagramatical representation of onesystem and process in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2-5 are highly schematic illustrations, with parts cut away, offour other system and process embodiments in accordance with the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are schematic illustrations of various views of oneembodiment of a cleaning head in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIGS. 9-13 are schematic illustrations of one filter drum assembly andcomponents thereof, including two embodiments of rotating couplingsallowing conveyance of fluid from the interior of the drum while it isunder rotation, useful in systems and processes of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 14-17 are schematic illustrations of another filter drumembodiment, including schematic illustration of one possible suctionunit;

FIG. 18 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a cleaningcomposition spray bar attached to a cleaning member, and FIG. 19illustrates how the cleaning member and spray bar may be positionedwhile cleaning a filter drum; and

FIGS. 20-24 are photographs of illustrating visually some of thecapabilities of the ‘air cleansing’ used in systems and processes ofthis disclosure.

It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings are not to scale,and illustrate only typical system and process embodiments of thisdisclosure. Therefore, the drawing figures are not to be consideredlimiting in scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equallyeffective embodiments. Identical reference numerals are used throughoutthe several views for like or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous details are set forth to providean understanding of the systems and processes of the present disclosure.However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that theapparatus, systems and processes disclosed herein may be practicedwithout these details and that numerous variations or modifications fromthe described embodiments may be possible. All technical articles, U.S.published and non-published patent applications, standards, U.S.patents, U.S. statutes and regulations referenced herein are herebyexplicitly incorporated herein by reference, irrespective of the page,paragraph, or section in which they are referenced. Where a range ofvalues describes a parameter, all sub-ranges, point values and endpointswithin that range or defining a range are explicitly disclosed herein.All percentages herein are by weight unless otherwise noted.

All references to the Periodic Table of the Elements herein shall referto the Periodic Table of the Elements, published and copyrighted by CRCPress, Inc., 2003. Also, any references to a Group or Groups shall be tothe Group or Groups reflected in this Periodic Table of the Elementsusing the IUPAC system for numbering groups. Unless stated to thecontrary, implicit from the context, or customary in the art, all partsand percentages are based on volume and all test methods are current asof the filing date hereof. The acronym “ASTM” means ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, Pa., 19428-2959USA. The acronym “EPA” means the United States Environmental ProtectionAgency. “Title 22” refers to Title 22 of California's Water RecyclingCriteria, and refers to California state regulations for how treated andrecycled water is discharged and used. “DDW 2014 Report” as used hereinrefers to State of California Water Boards, Division of Drinking Waterpublication “Alternative Treatment Technologies for RecycledWater—September 2014 Report.”

All numbers disclosed herein are approximate values, regardless whetherthe word “about” or “approximate” is used in connection therewith. Theymay vary by 1%, 2%, 5%, and sometimes, 10 to 20%. Whenever a numericalrange with a lower limit, RL and an upper limit, RU, is disclosed, anynumber falling within the range is specifically disclosed. Inparticular, the following numbers within the range are specificallydisclosed: R=RL+k*(RU−RL), wherein k is a variable ranging from 1% to100% with a 1% increment, i.e., k is 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, . . . , 50%,51%, 52%, . . . , 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100%. Moreover, anynumerical range defined by two R numbers as defined in the above is alsospecifically disclosed.

The term “comprising” and derivatives thereof is not intended to excludethe presence of any additional component, step or procedure, whether ornot the same is disclosed herein. In order to avoid any doubt, allsystems, processes, and compositions claimed herein through use of theterm “comprising” may include any additional component, step, additive,adjuvant, or compound whether monomeric, oligomeric, polymeric orotherwise, unless stated to the contrary. In contrast, the term,“consisting essentially of” excludes from the scope of any succeedingrecitation any other component, step or procedure, excepting those thatare not essential to operability. The term “consisting of” excludes anycomponent, step or procedure not specifically delineated or listed. Theterm “or”, unless stated otherwise, refers to the listed membersindividually as well as in any combination.

As mentioned herein, one of the challenges in operating presently knownwater and wastewater filtration systems is they are not able to use allmedia types (wire cloth, polymer mesh, pile cloth, woven cloth, felt,and other “deep” or “flat/thin” medias) with an outside-insidefiltration path, nor do they offer non-submerged cleaning of the fouledside of the media except through pressure washing, which has manydisadvantages as explained herein. Presently known systems and processesdo not allow mechanical contact and level of ‘suction’ engagement to bemanaged to not damage or reduce damage to typically frail, flat absolutepore size medias (such as felt or thin wire mesh). Presently knownsystems and processes exhibit high ‘backwash’ rates, inadequatedewatering of the media, are limited in their process applications,and/or do not allow absolute pore size filtration or staged filtration(for example 100 micron belt, 10 micron nominal pile cloth, 1 micronfelt) using substantially the same machine design. Furthermore,presently known systems and processes may not be able to handle upsetconditions that may cause (in conventional filters) sudden and rapidincrease in solids loading due to an ‘upset’ in an upstream process.

Systems and processes of the present disclosure enable the use of allmedia types (wire cloth, polymer mesh, pile cloth, woven cloth, felt,and other “deep” or “flat/thin” filter media) with an outside to insidefiltration path and direct cleaning of the fouled side of the media. Acomparison of operating conditions for different filter media isprovided in Table 1. As used herein ‘direct cleaning’ means removal orextraction of wet solids from the filter media using one or morecleaning members without the cleaning members drawing filtered waterthrough the filter media from the clean side to the fouled side, orusing pressure washing to force filtered water through the filter mediato dislodge accumulated solids and possibly damage the filter media.Systems and processes of the present disclosure allow mechanical contactand level of ‘suction’ (or pressure reduction) engagement to be managedto not damage or reduce damage to typically frail, flat ‘finer andabsolute pore size’ medias. As used herein, ‘absolute pore size media’refers to the rating of the media. As explained on the website ofQuality Hydraulics & Pneumatics, Inc. (Mundelien, Ill., U.S.A.), theabsolute rating, or cut-off point, of a filter is the diameter of thelargest spherical glass particle which will pass through the filter.These diameter dimensions are expressed in micrometers—or one/onemillionth of a meter. The absolute rating reflects the pore opening sizeof the medium. Filter media with an exact and consistent pore size havean exact absolute rating. This absolute rating should not be confusedwith the largest particle passed by a filter: the absolute rating simplydetermines the size of the largest glass bead that will pass through thefilter under very low pressure differentials and non-pulsatingconditions. Examples of such filter media are felt and thin wire meshfilter medias. Filter media with exactly consistent pore sizes do nottypically exist in practice. Pore size is affected by the form of thefilter element and is not necessarily consistent with the actual openareas. It is possible for the shape of the particle, say if it iscylindrical, to allow the particle to pass through a much smaller holein the media than would have been expected, based on at least one of theparticle's dimensions. This type of passage hinges on the size and shapeof the opening and on the fluid depth over which filtering is provided.A filter bed is typically created wherein particles collect on the mediasurface and result in an increased blocking action. This furtherdecreases the permeability of the element. The blocking can increase somuch that the pressure drop across the filter becomes excessive and theflow rate through the system drops dramatically. The term absolute meansthat no particle larger than that rating can pass through the filter,which may limit the types of media to those with consistent pore sizeand ones that show a perfect retention of particles, an un-realisticexpectation.

As further noted on the Quality Hydraulics & Pneumatics website, a‘nominal’ rating indicates the filter's ability to prevent the passageof a minimum percentage of solid particles greater than the nominalrating's stated micron size. These particles of each specificcontaminant are measured by weight. The nominal rating also representsan efficiency figure or degree of filtration. A nominal rating exampleis “95% of 10 micron”

-   -   where the filter prevents 95% of all 10 micron and larger        particles from passing through. However, the nominal rating        method is generally discouraged. During testing, differing        conditions like operating pressure and contaminant concentration        vary enough that the rating provides an inconsistent result and        a lack of uniform measurement.

As further noted by Quality Hydraulics and Pneumatics, Inc., a newertest procedure called multi-pass testing or Beta ratio testing yieldsreadily comparable test results and was introduced to give the filtermanufacturer and the end user an accurate comparison between filtermedia. Multi-pass testing uses a specified contaminate, of known sizes,added regularly in measured quantities to the fluid which is beingpumped through the filter. At timed intervals, samples of the fluid aresimultaneously taken from both downstream and upstream of the filter.Using particle counters, particles in each sample are measured andcounted. Based on the results of these measurements, a Beta ratio isdetermined by dividing the number of particles of a particular size inthe upstream flow by the number of particles of the same size in thedownstream flow. In essence, the Beta ratio is an indicator of how wella filter controls a specifically sized particulate. For example, if oneout of every two particles in a fluid pass through the filter, the Betaratio is 2/1=2. This shows the number of particles upstream (2) dividedby the number of particles downstream (1). Based on this method, filterswith a higher beta ratio retain more particles, have a higherefficiency, and therefore are more effective filters.

Certain system and process embodiments of the present disclosure exhibitreduced cleaning rates compared with ‘backwash’ systems, improveddewatering, multiple process applications, absolute pore sizefiltration, staged filtration (for example a first filter employing 100micron belt filter media, with the first filtrate feeding a secondfilter having 10 micron nominal pile cloth, and the second filtratebeing fed to a third filter having a 1 micron felt) using substantiallythe same machine design.

Certain systems and processes of the present disclosure offer partialand gradual additional submergence of the filter media as head levels inthe filter tank increase due to solids build up on the filter media.Furthermore, certain systems and processes of the present disclosure areable to handle upset conditions that may cause (in conventional filters)sudden and rapid increase in solids loading due to upset upstreamprocesses, all while employing reduced piping, reduced valve sizes,reduced power, and reduced related equipment foot print compared withpresently available systems, and which may eliminate the need for freezeprotection.

In certain embodiments, filter tank level (FTL) may be sensed, and usedto control suction (reduced pressure) management of the cleaningmembers. Different systems and processes of the present disclosure mayhave different sensor strategies, for example, a mass flow sensor forthe influent flow and a FTL sensor; or a TL sensor used to controlenergizing or initating additional cleaning members of a systememploying multiple cleaning members. All combinations of sensing one ormore of FTL, temperature, turbity, concentration, particle count, andmass flow of one or more flowing streams and the influent in the filtertank are disclosed herein and considered within the present disclosure.

Certain systems may include FTL management components and associatedcomponents, for example, but not limited to pressure (or vacuum, orreduce pressure) control devices (backpressure valves), pressure reliefdevices (valves or explosion discs), level control valves, expansionvalves, pipes, conduits, vessels, tanks, mass flow meters, temperatureand pressure indicators, heat exchangers, pumps, compressors, andblowers as described herein. With respect to “reduced pressuremanagement”, when referring to the degree of vacuum or reduced pressureexhibited in the cleaning members, those skilled in the art willunderstand that the lowest degree of reduced pressure that willeffectively clean the filter media is desired, for sake of energyefficiency, but the reduced pressure may, in some embodiments, be about13 psia (90 kPa) or less; alternatively about 12 psia (83 kPa) or less;alternatively about 11 psia (76 kPa) or less; alternatively about 10psia (69 kPa) or less; alternatively about 10 psia (70 kPa) or less;alternatively about 9 psia (63 kPa) or less; alternatively about 8 psia(56 kPa) or less; alternatively about 7 psia (49 kPa) or less;alternatively about 6 psia (42 kPa) or less; alternatively about 5 psia(35 kPa) or less. All ranges and sub-ranges (including endpoints)between about 14.69 psia (about 101.3 kPa) and about 0.01 psia (about0.07 kPa) are considered explicitly disclosed herein. As used hereinwith respect to pressure reduction below atmospheric pressure, “about”means+/−1 psia (+/−6.9 kPa).

Certain systems of this disclosure include those wherein the one or morefiltration members is a single drum filter. In certain of these drumfilter systems, the one or more cleaning members is a single cleaningmember comprising a body having a length (L) and a width (W), the length(L) of the cleaning member corresponding substantially with a length ofthe drum filter (DFL). In certain drum filter system embodiments, thelength (DFL) of the filter drum and a length of the filtration zoneinside the filter tank (FTL) are related by a ratio ranging from about1:2 to about 9:10. In certain other drum filter systems the one or morecleaning members may comprise a set of cleaning members, each comprisinga body having a length (L) and a width (W), a first sub-set of the setof cleaning members positioned so that their combined length(L₁1+L₁2+L₁3+L₁n) corresponds substantially with the length of the drumfilter (DFL), and a second sub-set of the plurality of cleaning memberspositioned behind the first sub-set such that a length (L₂) of each ofthe second sub-set overlaps a position where two of the first sub-set ofcleaning members have abutting ends. In yet other drum filter systemsthe one or more cleaning members comprises first and second cleaningmembers, each cleaning member comprising a body having substantiallysame length (L) and a width (W), the length (L) of the first and secondcleaning members corresponding substantially with a length of the drumfilter (DFL). It is understood herein that the term “length” is a largernumerical quantity than the term “width.”

In certain systems and processes of the present disclosure the one ormore filtration members may comprise a plurality of filter disks, wherea “disk” is a 3D circular structure having a radius (r) much more thanits width (w). In certain systems each of the one or more filter diskshas equal width (w) and radius (r). In certain disk filter embodimentsthe one or more cleaning members may comprise a first set of cleaningmembers, one of the first set of cleaning members positioned on a firstside of each of the plurality of filter disks, and a second set ofcleaning members, one of the second set of cleaning members positionedon a second side of each of the plurality of filter disks. In other diskfilter embodiments, the one or more cleaning members may comprises afirst set of cleaning members, at least two of the first set of cleaningmembers positioned on a first side of each of the plurality of filterdisks, and a second set of cleaning members, at least one of the secondset of cleaning members positioned on a second side of each of theplurality of filter disks.

In certain systems of the present disclosure the one or more cleaningmembers may be fluidly connected with the blower and chamber by acleaning conduit for creating the reduced pressure condition in each ofthe one or more cleaning members when non-submerged.

Certain systems of the present disclosure may further comprise acleaning composition supply vessel, a cleaning composition supplyconduit fluidly connecting the cleaning composition supply vessel with aset of spray nozzles positioned to spray a cleaning composition onto atleast some of the non-submerged portions of the filtration members, anda cleaning composition supply valve in the cleaning composition supplyconduit.

In certain systems and processes of this disclosure, efficiency offiltration may be characterized by turbidity and silt density index(SDI) of the filtrate. SDI is a measurement of the fouling potential ofsuspended solids, and may be determined by test method ASTMD4189-07(2014). Acceptable values depend on the filter media and eventhe filter media manufacturer of the “same” media, as well astemperature of the water being tested. Turbidity is a measurement of theamount of suspended solids. SDI and turbidity are not the same and thereis no direct correlation between the two. According to the WaterTreatment Guide, a publication of Applied Membranes, Inc., in practicalterms, however, many filter media show very little fouling when the feedwater has a turbidity of less than 1 NTU. Correspondingly these filtermedia show very low fouling at a feed SDI of less than 5. SDI may bereduced by injecting a coagulant that is compatible with the filtermedia, before the media filter. A dispersant may keep particles fromfouling the media.

A wide variety of probes are available to measure turbidity—the degreeto which light is scattered by particles suspended in a liquid. Themeasured turbidity, however, depends on the wavelength of light and theangle at which the detector is positioned. Turbidity values of theeffluent (filtrate) may range from about 0.0005 to about 800 NTU, orfrom about 0.0010 to about 700 NTU, or from about 0.0020 to about 650NTU, or from about 0.0050 to about 600 NTU, or from about 0.01 to about500 NTU. “NTU” refers to “Nephelometric Turbidity Unit” (NTU) andemploys a sensor that measures scattered light at 90 degrees from anincident white light beam, according to EPA method 180.1.

As noted herein, one system embodiment may comprise, for example, afirst filter using 100 micron belt, a second filter using a 10 micronnominal pile cloth, and a third filter using a 1 micron felt, usingsubstantially the same machine design for each filter.

In certain systems and processes of the present disclosure, the processmay self adapt' to the thickness of the filter media material in termsof liquid waste generated. This concept became evident when performingpilot unit tests and comparing the test results to commercially knownfilters and backwash systems.

The condition (clarity, turbidity, and/or concentration of an impurity)and flow rate of the influent stream and the specific configuration ofthe system largely define the operational capabilities of each processand system embodiment. Redundancy of components (pumps, valves, sensors,and the like) may allow for extended service periods and mitigates riskof downtime due to component failure. An example would be a pressurecontrol device plugging with material, or a pump failure, or a filterdrum or one or more filter disks taken out of service for inspection. Inthis case, isolating the failed or to be inspected component andenabling another one allows for continued operations, and enablesevaluation and/or modification of the operational parameters to minimizethe risk of failure of the new or parallel components in use.

The systems and processes of this present disclosure may be used for newgreenfield applications, where one or more filter units are customdesigned together to be operatively and fluidly connected duringoperation. It is also contemplated to design the systems and processesto be able to operate in dual modes, where in the first mode the filterfilter unit is integrated with another process (such as a clarifier ormembrane unit), and the second mode where one or both of the units mayoperate independently from each other, in other words, where either oneor both of the filter unit unit and the clarifier or membrane unit mayoperate without requiring the other unit to be in operation.

Advantageously, most of the components of systems and processes of thepresent disclosure may alternatively be sourced from existing pieces ofequipment that, individually, may be familiar to those in the filtrationindustry. Some of the components of the systems of the presentdisclosure may be based on existing equipment, some of which may requiremodification to reconfigure the equipment for integrated operationbetween a filter unit of the present disclosure and another unit, suchas a clarifier or membrane unit. The installation of systems andprocesses of the present disclosure on existing clarifier or membraneunits (or other separators, such as centrifuges) are expected to requireminimal interfacing. It may be possible to design a retrofitted systemthat requires no modifications to the other units, although the designermay consider modest changes, for example, substituting less expensivemembrane units, or other new internals for existing internals. Newequipment to complete the integration of a system of the presentdisclosure may include vacuum (reduced pressure) conduits, a blower, anda pump, the filter tank, and the filter media (drum or one or moredisks). It is of course contemplated to employ a drum filter of thepresent disclosure in conjunction with a disk filter of the presentdisclosure, such “compound” arrangements may be in series or parallel(or combination) configuration.

Processes and systems of the present disclosure often are end of line(in other words downhill of the plant) in which case there is no pump atall and the entire until will be low power/solar capable. Embodimentswhere the blower discharge is used to ‘pneumatically’ rotate the drum ordisk arrangement are contemplated, as are embodiments where the blowerdischarge is used to push or pump the small volume of waste uphill viaan air-lift if needed. Other embodiments may be operated usinghydraulic, electric, solar, geothermal, pneumatic, or combustion power,or combination of one or more of these. One possible configuration mayemploy traditional electric power to operate a motor for a pump (whichmotor may be variable speed or non-variable speed) and solar electricpower to operate the reduced pressure generator (blower) and to operatethe motor that rotates the drum or disk filtration members. Powersupplies may have redundant and/or back up power supply. In certainembodiments, electric power may require installation of an additionalbattery unit, possibly including solar panels for backup power. Incertain embodiments, a plant may have one or more hydrocarbon-poweredelectric generators, and these units may provide electric power, andbackup power may be provided by an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)battery system.

Certain embodiments may include 1) low power electric connections fordata transmission for sensors (e.g., pressure, temperature, tank level,mass flow indicators, particle counters, among others); and 2) electriccable to provide power for operating valves and other components of thesystems and processes. With respect to data connection/integration, incertain embodiments control signals for the components of the systems ofthe present disclosure, as well as parameters measured or captured bythe system's sensors, may be transmitted to and from an operator room orcontrol room from and to the filter.

Referring now to the drawing figures, FIG. 1 is a high-level schematicdiagramatical representation of one system and process embodiment 100 inaccordance with the present disclosure. Embodiment 100 includes a filtertank 2 having a floor 3, a sidewall structure 5, and a maximum waterlevel 4, an influent conduit 6 including an optional influent flowcontrol valve and/or tank level control valve 10 (depending on theprocess control scheme used), a low-pressure effluent conduit 8 havingan optional effluent flow control valve 12, and a drum filter (sometimesreferred to as a filter drum) 20 having a submerged filter media portion22 and a non-submerged filter media portion 24. Embodiment 100 mayfurther include an optional pump 42 fluidly connected to the lowpressure effluent conduit 8 and to a high-pressure conduit 9, whichdirects effluent to another unit operation, or another filter, orstorage facility (not illustrated). Low-pressure effluent conduit 8extends through drum filter 20 and mechanically connects on a distal endwith a motor/chain/sprocket assembly 32, which rotates drum filter 20.Low-pressure effluent conduit 8 includes a plurality of slots, holes, orother through-holes extending from its external surface to its internalsurface in known fashion, creating the differential pressure on thefilter media covering the filter drum. As this is well-known and notpart of the present disclosure, it is not discussed further herein.

Still referring to FIG. 1 and the high-level schematic diagramaticalrepresentation embodiment 100, filter tank floor 3 and sidewallstructure 5, along with maximum water level 4, form or define afiltration zone 44 that actually increases during operation of thefilter. The filtration path will be outside-inside with solidscollecting on the outside of the filter media on the submerged portions22 of the filter media. As a solids layer builds, the water level infilter tank 2 will increase submerging more active filter media. At apredetermined maximum water depth 4 or time interval, the wet,solids-laden filter media is cleaned by:

1. Energizing an air suction device 30 capable of handling an air andwater mixture through a cleaning conduit 28 and one or more cleaningmembers 26 (similar to dental suction or wet/dry vacuums or“shop-vacs”).

2. Rotating filter drum 20 (or discs 21 in accordance with otherembodiments) to unsubmerged the fouled media and clean the media ofcollected solids and remove entrapped water from the media employingsuction cleaning member(s) 26, and which further cleanse the media withambient gases (air) from the clean side (inside) of the non-submergedportion 24 of the filter media. The filter media may be cleaned withmultiple passes and/or with numerous cleaning members 26 in sequence.Cleaning member 26 may optionally be supported by support struts 34, 36,illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1.

3. If desired, the fouled media maybe treated with cleaning agents(which may be liquid, gas, aerosol, or combinations thereof) as a partof the filter media cleansing process, employing a cleaning compositionapplied from a cleaning composition supply vessel 14, cleaningcomposition supply conduit 16 and supply valve 18. Conduit 18 includes,in certain embodiments, one or more spray nozzles 17 attached to a spraybar 19. FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate schematically one embodiment of acleaning composition spray bar 19 with 9 spray nozzles 17 evenly spacedacross spray bar 19, the latter attached to cleaning member 26 using apair of U-brackets 31, 33. There may of course be less or more than 9nozzles, and they need not be evenly spaced, or even in the same linealong the spray bar. The spray bar itself may not be necessary, as onecould conceive of embodiments where the nozzles are each individuallyattached to the cleaning member, or not attached but held in position bydedicated brackets. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 thespray bar and nozzles are positioned aft of the the cleaning member, butthat is not required in all embodiments. The aft position appears towork best for the cleaning solution to be applied post extraction offluid so the applied cleaner agents are not diluted and are able to wickand penetrate the depth of the media. This may prove especially usefulin applications that may sometimes see oil and grease (which is aproblem at some plants) as well as for behind fixed film biologicaltreatment plants such as MBBR and Trickling filters as those sorts ofbacterial films tend to attach to and grow on the filter media too.Being able to extract free liquid and kill/sterilize those sorts ofhighly adherent bio-films with a low waste volume generating processwill be a large step forward for this type of filtration.

In contrast to previously known systems and processes, the initialcleaning media is air (a gas), not filtered water (a liquid); appliedsuction (reduced pressure) is used, applied directly to the soiled sideor portion of the filter media which is non-submerged. This is not,therefore, a ‘backwash’ but a unique cleaning arrangement suitable foruse with any filter media type (for example, but not limited to wovenmesh, nonwoven, pile fabric, felt). Moreover, the arrangement allows fordirect access to the non-submerged ‘dirty—feed side’ of the media forcleaning and/or application of cleaning agents (for example, but notlimited to, oxidizers, biocides, surfactants, acids, bases, chelatingagents, solvents, steam, or combination thereof) as a part of thecleaning process.

In certain system and process embodiments, it may be desirable tooperate the drum filter or filter disks, while filtering, ‘fullysubmerged’ and then periodically partially drain the filter tank,followed by initiating a cleaning event to clean non-submerged portionsof what then becomes partially submerged filter media, but only duringone or more cleaning events or cycles. In these embodiments the cleaningmember(s) would either be submerged during filtering, but becomenon-submerged when the tank level is decreased; alternatively, thecleaning member(s) may be movable so that they could be moved to anon-submerged position away from the filter drum or filter disks, andthen moved into position to clean the fouled filter media after the tanklevel is decreased sufficiently. These embodiments are considered withinthe present disclosure. Another advantage of systems and methods of thisdisclosure is the fact that they are not subject to run dryinterruption. With fully submerged filters if a low flow, high solidsevent is experienced the filter backwash rate can exceed the forwardfeed rate and create a low-level shut down of the backwash pump toprevent running dry which can be problematic for the process should itbe followed by a hydraulic surge (such as a lift station pump kickingon). Systems and processes of the present disclosure have the ability toclean the media with no forward flow, but also the ability to completelyclean and nearly dry the media in an empty tank should one wish to cleanthe media for long periods of non-use which is sometimes the case forstorm water applications. Otherwise the media sits in water or fullysaturated either of which causes biomass to grow in and on the filtermedia without the ability to remove it.

FIGS. 2-5 are highly schematic illustrations, with parts cut away, offour other system and process embodiments 200, 300, 400, and 500,respectively in accordance with the present disclosure. In each ofembodiments 200, 300, 400, and 500, influent enters and effluent leavesthe unit in substantially the same fashion, with only the filter mediacleaning mechanisms being different, and embodiments 200 and 300 aredrum filter embodiments, while embodiments 400 and 500 are filter diskembodiments.

Referring to FIG. 2, embodiment 200 features a filter drum 20 havingsubmerged portions 22 and nonsubmerged portions 24 separated by waterlevel 4, a drum filter length (DFL), width (W), and radius (r), and afirst sub-set of cleaning members 26A, 26B, and 26C arranged in abuttingend relationship such that the sum of the lengthsL_(26A)+L_(26B)+L_(26C) is substantially equal to DFL. A second sub-setof cleaning members 26D and 26E are arranged and positioned behindpoints 27A and 27B, respectively, so as to collect debris and waterpotentially missed by abutting cleaning members 26A and 26B, andabutting cleaning members 26B and 26C. Each of cleaning members 26A,26B, 26C, 26D, and 26E is fluidly connected to a cleaning conduit header28 by respective cleaning sub-conduits 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D, and 28E,which may be flexible or non-flexible. Filter drum 20 rotates in thedirection of the curved arrow in this embodiment; however, the directionof rotation may be reversed or alternated in certain embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 3, embodiment 300 also features a filter drum 20having submerged portions 22 and nonsubmerged portions 24 separated by awater level, a drum filter length (DFL), width (W), and radius (r),however, embodiment 300 features a first cleaning member 26A and asecond cleaning member 26B, each cleaning member 26A, 26B having alength (L) substantially equal to the drum filter length (DFL). Cleaningmember 26A is fluidly connected to a cleaning conduit header 28 byrespective cleaning sub-conduits 28A, 28B, and 28C substantiallyequidistant from each other, and which may be flexible or non-flexible.Cleaning member 26B is fluidly connected to a cleaning conduit header 29by respective cleaning sub-conduits 28D, 28E, and 28F substantiallyequidistant from each other, and which may be flexible or non-flexible.Filter drum 20 rotates in the direction of the curved arrow in thisembodiment; however, the direction of rotation may be reversed oralternated in certain embodiments. In this embodiment, cleaning conduits28 and 29 may be fluidly connected to the same or different air suctiondevices (not illustrated).

FIG. 4 illustrates filter disk embodiment 400. Embodiment 400 featuresfour disks 21, although the number may vary up or down depending on theapplication. Each filter disk 21 is serviced on a first side by one of afirst sub-set of cleaning members 26A, 26B, 26C, and 26D, each of whichis fluidly connected to cleaning conduit header or manifold 28 byrespective cleaning conduits 28A, 28B, 28C, and 28D. A second sub-set ofcleaning members 26E, 26F, 26G, 26H, services a second side of eachcleaning disk, each cleaning member fluidly connected to cleaningconduit 28 by respective cleaning conduits 28E, 28F, 28G, and 28H. Allconduits may be flexible or rigid as desired. Each disk has a diskradius (r) that is substantially the same for each filter disk, althoughthat is not strictly required.

FIG. 5 illustrates schematically another disk filter embodiment 500, andillustrates additional optional features of systems of the presentdisclosure. Embodiment 500 features four disks 21, although the numbermay vary up or down depending on the application. Each filter disk 21 isserviced on a first side by two of a first sub-set of cleaning members26A, 26B, 26C, 26D, 26E, 26F, 26G, and 26H, each of which is fluidlyconnected to cleaning conduit header or manifold 29 by respectivecleaning conduits 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D, 28E, 28F, 28G, and 28H. A secondsub-set of cleaning members 26I, 26J, 26K, 26L, services a second sideof each cleaning disk, each cleaning member fluidly connected tocleaning conduit 28 by respective cleaning conduits 28I, 28J, 28K, and28L. All conduits may be flexible or rigid as desired. Each disk has adisk radius (r) that is substantially the same for each filter disk,although that is not strictly required. Cleaning members 26A and 26E areoffset by an angle (a) and connected by an optional arch support bracket40, as are cleaning members 26B and 26F, cleaning members 26C and 26G,and cleaning members 26D and 26H. Each angle (a) may be the same ordifferent, but for easy of construction, installation, and replacement,the angles may be the substantially same angle. The angle (a) may rangefrom about 20 degrees to about 180 degrees. Embodiment 500 alsoillustrates use of optional linear support brackets 38, which may helpsupport cleaning conduit pairs 28A and 28E, 28B and 28F, 28C and 28G,and 28D and 28H, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are schematic illustrations of various views of oneembodiment of a cleaning head in accordance with the present disclosure,while FIGS. 9-13 are schematic illustrations of one filter drum assemblyand components thereof, including two embodiments of rotating couplingsallowing conveyance of fluid from the interior of the drum while it isunder rotation, useful in systems and processes of the presentdisclosure. FIGS. 14-17 are schematic illustration of another filterdrum embodiment, including schematic illustration of one possiblesuction unit.

Referring to FIGS. 6-8, cleaning head 26 comprises a body 52 having alength (L) and a width (w), and having two longitudinal suction slots 50separated by a central bracket 62. Body 52 is generally cylindrical inthis embodiment, but that is not necessary in all embodiments, nor needslots 50 be longitudinal in all embodiments. For example, slots 50 couldbe a series or pattern of smaller slots, or even round or other shapeholes. Body 52 includes two end caps 54 at its opposite ends (one is notviewable in FIGS. 6-8). A half- or quarter-cylindrical bracket 56 isattached with two screw/washer assemblies 58, 60, and this bracketfluidly and mechanically connects body 52 with cleaning conduit 28. Inthe embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, all components except thescrew/washer assemblies 58, 60 may be plastic, such as PVC, or metalsuch as carbon steel or stainless steel, or aluminum if weight is aconsideration. Some other exotic metal may also be used in corrosiveenvironments, such as brass, copper, or monel.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate schematically a filter drum 20 useful in thesystems and processes of the present disclosure, illustrating a pilecloth filter media 70, a proximal end filter drum head 72, and a distalend filter drum head 73 (not viewable in FIGS. 9 and 10). FIG. 9illustrates an axle assembly 74 (explained further in reference to FIGS.11 and 12), while FIG. 10 illustrates a screen support 76 that supportspile cloth filter media 70. FIGS. 9 and 10 also illustrate schematicallytwo filter drum end rings 80, 82, each having in this embodimentinternal threads 78 that mesh with external threads 84 on filter drumheads 72, 73. An integrated rotating pipe coupling 86 is illustrated inFIGS. 11 and 12, while a non-integrated rotating pipe coupling isillustrated in FIG. 13, the latter comprising an internal flange 88, andan external flange 90 secured together using nut and bolt assemblies,two of which are illustrated at 92, 94 in FIG. 13.

As illustrated schematically in FIGS. 14-17, certain embodiments such asembodiment 600 may include inserting one end of the drum axle into apillow block, however, it is contemplated that certain embodiments willemploy two (2) rotating pipe couplings (one on each end of the filterdrum without an axle and pillow block) to convey filtrate from both endsof the filter drum as this will allow use of smaller couplings vs.enlarging the size of the pipe to handle the filtrate flow at reasonablevelocities. This aides in maintaining a small foot print in certainembodiments. FIG. 14 is a schematic plan view of embodiment 600, whileFIG. 15 is a schematic side view, with the side wall cut away toillustrate the filter drum 20 having a screen filter media 102, filterdrum drive wheel 104, and associated driver 106, which could be a chaindrive, a belt drive, or other mechanism. FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate asuction tank enclosure or frame 108 in which a suction receiver tank(not illustrated) would be positioned. Two suction unit motors, 110, 12,are illustrated in position on a top of suction tank enclosure 108, witha T-connector/suction manifold 114 fluidly and mechanically connectingsuction motors 110, 112 to cleaning conduit 28 via aquick-connect/quick-disconnect (QC/QD) connector 116. A drain valve 118is provided for the suction receiver tank.

The filter systems and cleaning members illustrated schematically in thevarious figures comprise several non-limiting examples. Otherconfigurations are possible, depending upon the specific designparameters. With regard to the cleaning member(s), the embodimentillustrated schematically in FIGS. 6-8 is just one simple arrangementand it obviously could take on additional forms including:

various shapes, widths, rows of openings from the exterior to interior;

a hooded, more triangular plenum vs. slotted pipe;

having a lag side squeegee blade to groom cleaned media;

having a lead side skid to prevent the cleaning head from diving too farinto the media and ‘biting’;

having an installed vacuum relief valve in the cleaning head or suctionmanifold to prevent exceedence of a maximum vacuum;

having an integrated cleaning solution dispersing bar; and anycombination of these features. As those skilled in this art will readilyappreciate, there are countless variations possible and the embodimentsherein are simple and effective—but not optimized.

With respect to the integrated and nonintegrated rotating pipecouplings, the inventors herein have not found suitable commerciallyavailable options that suits the purpose of conveying filtrate from theinterior of the filter drum (or filter disks) while sealing clean waterfrom dirty water while rotating submerged. There are some itemsavailable from the oil industry but they are designed for hundreds ofpsi pressure, are extremely costly, and are not intended for submergeduse. The embodiments described herein are adequate, very simple, andextremely low cost for submerged low/no pressure application.

Process conditions and overall material balance for an example ofEmbodiment 600 illustrated schematically in FIGS. 14-17 are presented inTables 2 and 3, however, these conditions and flow rates are to beconsidered representative only. As noted in the DDW 2014 Report,“Depending on the filter treatment process being employed, considerationmust be given to solids loading from the secondary treatment process onthe filter medium which can have a significant effect on loading/fluxrate, TMP, filter run times, backwashing efficiency and other O&M anddesign elements.”

Alternative system embodiments in accordance with the present disclosuremay include redundancy in the form of two reduced pressure generators(30) connected in parallel, each fluidly connected to one or morecleaning heads via one or more cleaning conduits 28. These embodimentsallow the filter to be used either with one reduced pressure generatoror the other, or both, through use of suitable isolation valves.Alternatively, two reduced pressure sources may be configured withsuitable valving so that they may be used in series or parallel flowarrangement. Alternative embodiments may be considered with three ormore reduced pressure generators connected in either parallel or seriesconfiguration, or a combination of the two.

In other embodiments, one filter tank may be used with two or morefilter drums (or two or more sets of filter disks) that may operate inconjunction with each other, for example, two filter drums may bearranged “side-by-side” in a single filter tank (either with or withouta particition wall separating them), or two or more filter drums may bearranged in series flow relationship in the same filter tank, with oneor more partition walls positioned to define two or more filtrationzones. Two or more filter units may be serviced by two or more reducedpressure generators, in series and/or parallel configuration, and thereduced pressure generators may be arranged to be common to the two ormore filter units or, alternatively, one or more reduced pressuregenerators may be dedicated to one filter unit and one or more reducepressure generators may be dedicated to other filter units. Alternativeembodiments may be contemplated where two or more filter units areserviced by two or more reduced pressure generators, in series and/orparallel configuration, and the reduced pressure generators may bearranged to be common to multiple filter units or, alternatively, one ormore reduced pressure generators may be dedicated to one filter unit andone or more reduced pressure generators may be dedicated to other filterunits.

TABLE 1 Example Process Conditions and System Characteristics for ThreeDifferent Filter Media Minimum Typical⁽¹⁾ Maximum Influent StreamHydraulic 0.25 ≤16 25 Loading Rate (gpm/ft²)⁽²⁾ Temperature (C.)⁽³⁾ −102 to 35 100 Pressure (psig) 0 ≤2 5 Turbidity (NTU)⁽⁴⁾ 0.001 ≤10 1000Effluent (Filtrate) Stream Percentage of 80.00% ≥99% 99.999% InfluentStream Volume⁽⁵⁾ Temperature (C.)⁽²⁾ −10 2 to 35 100 Pressure (psig) 0≤2 5 Turbidity (NTU)⁽⁴⁾ 0.0005 ≤2 800 System Characteristics Drum/DiscRotation Rate 0.10 1.00 10 (rpm)⁽⁶⁾ Filter Media Type Felt/ Pile WovenMicroscreen Cloth Belt Pore Size (microns)⁽⁷⁾ 0.25 2 to 10 500 TypicalTSS Daily 0.01 ≤2 10 Loading Rate/ Ft² Filter Media (lb/day/ft²) Wet DryCleaning −5.00 ≥−4.00 −0.05 Pressure (psig) Suction Motive Gas 5 ≤25 150Displacement (SCF/ft²)⁽⁸⁾ Cleaning Head 3 ≤35 110 Suction DisplacementRate (SCFM/inch of length) Combined Liquid & 0.35 27 144 Solids Volume/Ft² Filter Media (inches³) ⁽¹⁾Typical Values are Based on 10 MicronNominal Pile Cloth Media in Tertiary Biological Wastewater Application;⁽²⁾Hydraulic Loading Rate varies as a function of the filter media typeand permeability; ⁽³⁾Values represent temperatures typical for waterfiltration applications and are not mechanical limits; ⁽⁴⁾Values span awide range of applications; ⁽⁵⁾Value is equal to {(Influent Volume −Waste Volume)/Influent Volume} averaged across 24 hours; ⁽⁶⁾Alternatelylinear drive arrangements with velocities from 0.1 to approximately 35feet/minute are equivalent; ⁽⁷⁾Pores sizes may be nominal or absolutedepending on filter media type. ⁽⁸⁾Values represent Standard Cubic Feetof Gas per Ft² of Filter Media Per Cleaning Event.

TABLE 2 Example Overall Material Balance - Embodiment 600 Pounds KgInfluent Stream Water 999980 453583 Solids 20 9 Effluent Stream Water999945 453567 Solids 1 0 Wet/Dry Stream Water 35 16 Solids 19 9

TABLE 3 Example Process Conditions, Embodiment 600 Broad Range PreferredRange Influent stream Hydraulic Loading Rate (gpm/ft.²) 0.5 to 25  2.0to 15  Temp. (F.)  30 to 210  50 to 100 Pressure (psig) 0 to 5 0 to 3Turbidity (NTU)  0.01 to 1000  0.1 to 500 Filtrate stream Pressure(psig) 0 to 5 0 to 3 Turbidity (NTU) 0.001 to 750  0.01 to 300  Drumrotation rate (rpm) 0.10 to 10  1 to 5 Drum filter media Types: pilecloth, woven clioth, non-woven cloth, felt, wire cloth, polymer beltPore size (millimicrons) 0.25 to 500   1.0 to 200 Commercial source:Various Wet/dry Vacuum Commercial sources: Ametek, GAST, Gardner DenverPressure (psig)    0 to −5.0 −0.5 to −5.0 Flow rate Air (ft.³/ft.²/day)   1 to 30,000  1,000 to 20,000 Air/water/solids stream Air (scfm)   1to 1300 200 to 800 Water (gal./day/ft.²)    0 to 1,000  3 to 300 Solids(lb/ft.²/day)  0 to 10 0.1 to 5 

During operation of the systems of the present disclosure, one processfor treating water or wastewater may comprise:

a) flowing an influent water composition comprising water and solidsinto the filter tank;

b) producing an effluent stream by generating a pressure differentialacross the submerged portions of the one or more filtration members,causing water in the influent water composition to flow from outside toinside submerged portions of filter media of the one or more filtrationmembers (in certain embodiments the pressure differential is produced bygravity with the differential pressure being static head of the influenton the feed side of the filter media, while other embodiments may employone or more pumps, or both gravity and pumping action);

c) rotating the one or more filtration members so that wet, solids-ladensubmerged portions of the one or more filtration members becomenon-submerged;

wet, solids-laden filtration member portions; and

d) removing wet solids from at least some of the non-submerged, wet,solids-laden filtration member portions by reducing pressure in the oneor more non-submerged cleaning members. In certain embodiments, theprocess may include periodic rotation of the media without cleaning toessentially load the entire surface of the filter media with solidsbefore cleaning.

Another process for treating water or wastewater using a drum filter maycomprise:

a) flowing an influent water composition comprising water and solidsinto the filter tank;

b) producing an effluent stream by generating a pressure differentialacross submerged portions of a filter drum, causing water in theinfluent water composition to flow from outside to inside submergedportions of the filter media of the filter drum;

-   -   c) rotating the filter drum so that wet, solids-laden submerged        portions of the filter media become non-submerged, wet,        solids-laden filter media portions; and d) removing wet solids        from the non-submerged, wet, solids-laden filter media portions        by reducing pressure in the one or more non-submerged cleaning        members.

Another process for treating water or wastewater using a disk filter maycomprise:

a) flowing an influent water composition comprising water and solidsinto the filter tank;

b) producing an effluent stream by generating a pressure differentialacross submerged portions of one or more partially submerged filterdisks, causing water in the influent water composition to flow fromoutside to inside submerged portions of the filter media of the one ormore filter disks;

c) rotating the one or more filter disks so that wet, solids-ladenfilter media portions of the one or more filter disks becomenon-submerged, wet, solids-laden filter media portions; and

-   -   d) removing wet solids from the non-submerged, wet, solids-laden        filter media portions by reducing pressure in the one or more        non-submerged cleaning members.

In certain embodiments, systems and processes of the present disclosuremay include periodic rotation of the media without cleaning toessentially load the entire surface of the filter media with solidsbefore cleaning.

Any known type of reduced pressure generation device (blower, Venturieductor, wet/dry vac, or “shop vac”) may be employed in practicing thesystems and processes of the present disclosure, including thosecurrently commercially available from Gast, Tuthil, Ametek, GardnerDenver, and others. Suitable filter tanks, drum filters, and diskfilters would be custom fabricated. As noted herein a pump is normallynot required, but if used, any known type of pump may be employed inpracticing the systems and processes of the present disclosure,including positive displacement, centrifugal, horizontal, verticalpumps, and pumps operated with variable speed motors. Suitable conduitsand components typically used therewith include currently commerciallyavailable stainless steel tubing, or PVC tubing available from a varietyof sources, including Ryan Herco, JM Eagle, Charlotte Pipe, Cresline,and others. Any known type of mass flow meter may be employed inpracticing the systems and processes of the present disclosure. Suitablemass flow meters and components typically used therewith include thecoriolis flow and density meters currently commercially available fromEmerson (under the trade designation ELITE Peak Performance CoriolisFlow and Density Meter) and other suppliers. Any known type of filtertank level control sensor (float, laser, or other) may be employed inpracticing the systems and processes of the present disclosure.

Any known type of filter media may be employed in practicing the systemsand processes of the present disclosure, including but not limited topile fabrics, wire mesh, polymer mesh, woven and nonwoven fabrics,felts, stitchbonded fabrics, and the like. Suitable filter media includethose described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,833,315; 4,167,482; 4,639,315;4,869,823; 5,560,835; 5,346,519; and 8,852,445.

As explained in the '445 patent, cloth disk filters are sized on thebasis of “hydraulic loading rate”, and 3 to 6 gallons/day/ft² (gpd/ft²)is typical for design average flow rates of prior art cloth diskfilters. Filter cloth media useful in the various embodiments of thisdisclosure may, in certain embodiments, be able to filter out solidshaving particles sizes of 10 microns or larger, or 5 microns and larger,and withstand washing or mechanical abrasion enough to remove retainedmaterials, and may be characterized as organic polymeric filter clothmedia or inorganic filter cloth media depending on the materialperforming the separation function. A single disk or cassette of a clothdisk filter may have a filter area ranging from 1 to about 200 ft², orfrom 1 to about 50 ft², or from 1 to about 20 ft², and there may beupwards of 10 filter cassettes in a single combined sludgeblanket/filtration vessel. The filter area is dictated largely by thefiltration task at hand, size of the vessel and influent solids loadingand flow rate, and the like. It is understood that an organic filtercloth media might comprise inorganic materials, and vice versa.

Suitable cloth filter media may be woven or nonwoven, and may compriseone layer or may be multi-layered. The material selected for the filtercloth media should have numerous attributes that render the filter clothmedia suitable for filtration service, such as structural integrity towithstand the pressure gradients of filtration and backflushing, andchemical resistance to attack or dissolution by the filtered species,filtrate, and chemical cleaning solutions such as chlorine, citric acid,sodium hydroxide, and other chemicals designed to minimize organic andinorganic fouling of the filter cloth media. The material should alsohave the ability to be fabricated readily into the preselected filtercloth media shape for a particular application. One useful cloth filtermaterial is a nonwoven, needlefelted nylon (polyamide) fiber-basedmaterial. The same material in “pile” form is another suitable filtermaterial. “Pile” and “needlefelting”, and “needling” are terms of art inthe manufacture of nonwovens, and are readily understood by thoseskilled in the nonwovens art. Piled materials may also be needlefelted.Additional design criteria and considerations in the fabrication andselection of cloth disk filter media are disclosed in Purchas andSutherland, “Handbook of Filter Media”, Elsevier Science Ltd. (2002),which is incorporated herein by reference, and especially Chapters 2 and3 entitled “Woven Fabric Media” and “Nonwoven Fabric Media”,respectively. Patents describing piled and/or needled nonwovens includeU.S. Pat. Nos. 3,673,048 and 3,755,055, both incorporated herein byreference. In certain embodiments, the filter material may comprisemembrane materials or fine screened mesh (such as stainless steel screenmesh).

During certain processes of the present disclosure, one or all of filtertank level; temperature, mass flow rate, concentrations (or percentagesof set point values) of selected constituents of influent and/oreffluent; and reduced pressure value of one or more cleaning members,and other parameters may be displayed locally on one or more HumanMachine Interfaces (HMI), such as a laptop computer having a displayscreen having a graphical user interface (GUI), or handheld device, orsimilar, either in a dedicated control room, or remotely. In certainembodiments the HMI may record and/or transmit the data via wired orwireless communication to another HMI, such as another laptop, desktop,or hand-held computer or display. These communication links may be wiredor wireless.

The filter tank, drum filter (heads, media support structure), diskfilters, cleaning members, conduits, valves, and spray nozzles, may bemade of metals, polymeric materials (for example, but not limited to,polypropylene, PVC, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP)), except where feltor fabric seals, or rubber or other polymeric materials and/or seals maybe employed. Suitable metals include stainless steels, for example, butnot limited to, 304, 316, as well as titanium alloys, aluminum alloys,and the like. High-strength materials like C-110 and C-125 metallurgiesthat are NACE qualified may be employed. (As used herein, “NACE” refersto the corrosion prevention organization formerly known as the NationalAssociation of Corrosion Engineers, now operating under the name NACEInternational, Houston, Tex.) Use of high strength steel and other highstrength materials may significantly reduce the wall thickness required,reducing weight. Threaded connections may eliminate the need for 3rdparty forgings and expensive welding processes—considerably improvingsystem delivery time and overall cost. It will be understood, however,that the use of 3rd party forgings and welding is not ruled out forsystem components described herein and may actually be preferable incertain situations. The skilled artisan, having knowledge of theparticular application, pressures, temperatures, and availablematerials, will be able design the most cost effective, safe, andoperable system components for each particular application without undueexperimentation.

One or more control strategies may be employed, as long as the strategyincludes measurement of filter tank level and (optionally) vacuum(reduced pressure); measurements to be able to determine influent andeffluent properties (such as turbidity, particle counts, particle sizes,concentrations, and the like) and flow rates are preferred, and thosemeasurements (or values derived from those measurements) may be used incontrolling the systems and/or processes described herein. A pressureprocess control scheme may be employed, for example in conjunction withthe filter tank level control devices and mass flow controllers. Amaster controller may be employed, but the disclosure is not so limited,as any combination of controllers may be used. Programmable logiccontrollers (PLCs) may be used.

Control strategies may be selected from proportional-integral (PI),proportional-integral-derivative (PID) (including any known orreasonably foreseeable variations of these), and may compute a residualequal to a difference between a measured value and a set point toproduce an output to one or more control elements. The controller maycompute the residual continuously or non-continuously. Other possibleimplementations of the disclosure are those wherein the controllercomprises more specialized control strategies, such as strategiesselected from feed forward, cascade control, internal feedback loops,model predictive control, neural networks, and Kalman filteringtechniques.

The electrical connections, if used (voltage and amperage) will beappropriate for the zone rating desired of each system. In certainembodiments one or more electrical cables may be run and connected to anidentified power supply at the work site to operate the HMI filter unitmotor, pump and pressure reducing device. Certain embodiments may employa dedicated power supply. The identified or dedicated power supply maybe controlled by one or more logic devices so that it may be shut down.In exemplary embodiments, systems of the present disclosure may have anelectrical isolation (lockout) device on a secure cabinet.

In embodiments where connection to one or more remote HMI units isdesired, this may be achieved by an intrinsically safe cable andconnection to allow system components to operate in the required zonedarea. If no remote access is required, power to operate the HMI, motor,pump, and pressure reducing device may be integral to the apparatus,such as batteries, for example, but not limited to, Li-ion batteries. Inthese embodiments, the power source may be enclosed allowing it tooperate in a zoned area (Zone 0 (gases) in accordance with InternationalElectrotechnical Commission (IEC) processes). By “intrinsically safe” ismeant the definition of intrinsic safety used in the relevant IECapparatus standard IEC 60079-11, defined as a type of protection basedon the restriction of electrical energy within apparatus and ofinterconnecting wiring exposed to a potentially explosive atmosphere toa level below that which can cause ignition by either sparking orheating effects. For more discussion, see “AN9003—A User's Guide toIntrinsic Safety”, retrieved from the Internet Jul. 12, 2017, andincorporated herein by reference.

In certain embodiments, internal algorithms in the logic device, such asa PLC, may calculate a rate of increase or decrease in water levelinside the filter tank, or increase in pressure differential acrossfilter media. These may then be displayed or audioed in a series of wayssuch as “percentage to cleaning” lights or sounds, and the like on oneor more GUIs. In certain embodiments, an additional function within anHMI may be to audibly alarm when the calculated tank water level and/orpressure differential across the filter media rate of increase ordecrease reaches a level set by the operator. In certain embodimentsthis alarm may be emitted locally, as well as remote from the filtersystem, for example in a local or remote control room.

Systems of the present disclosure, including conduits therefore,pressure reducing devices, pumps, logic devices, sensors, valves, andoptional safety shutdown units should be capable of withstanding longterm exposure to probable liquids and vapors, including hydrocarbons,acids, acid gases, fluids (oil-based and water-based), solvents, brine,anti-freeze compositions, hydrate inhibition chemicals, biocides,chlorine, and the like, typically encountered in water and wastewaterfiltering and treatment facilities.

In alternative embodiments, some or all of the system may be enclosedwithin a frame or cabinet, and/or truck-mounted, and/or ship-mounted.Moreover, the various components (such as the filter tank) need not havespecific shapes or specific conduit routing as illustrated in thedrawings, but rather could take any shape, such as a box or cube shape,elliptical, triangular, prism-shaped, hemispherical orsemi-hemispherical-shaped (dome-shaped), or combination thereof and thelike, as long as the system performs the desired separation. The conduitcross-sections need not be round, but may be rectangular, triangular,round, oval, and the like. It will be understood that such embodimentsare part of this disclosure and deemed with in the claims. Furthermore,one or more of the various components may be ornamented with variousornamentation produced in various ways (for example stamping orengraving, or raised features such as reflectors, reflective tape), suchas facility designs, operating company designs, logos, letters, words,nicknames (for example AQUAPYR, and the like). Components of the systemsmay include optional hand-holds, which may be machined or formed to haveeasy-to-grasp features for fingers, or may have rubber grips shaped andadorned with ornamental features, such as raised knobby gripperpatterns.

Thus the systems and processes described herein afford ways to filterwater and wastewater, and remove debris therefrom safely andeconomically. The following Examples may further help in understandingcertain aspects of the systems and processes of this disclosure.

Examples

Backwash Efficiency

A key aspect of filtration performance is the efficiency as to whichfiltered liquid is used to fluidize, wash and remove retained soils fromthe surface of a filtration media via the reversal of filtrate flow orbackwash. Both overall instantaneous flows and overall volumes perbackwash event are paramount to in the design of efficient filters toreduce waste generation and the cost of pumps, piping, valves and otherassociated backwash components.

As the frequency of backwash events is influenced by a combination ofhydraulic loading and contaminant loading, backwash volume per backwashevent is a key measure of performance which can typically be compared tothe thickness or depth of the filter media and the volume of liquidneeded to fluidize the contaminants within the filter media andsubsequently transport the contaminants from the bed with continuousrinsing for a period of time to facilitate mass transport with. Thefollowing terminology may be used:

Backwash Rate=Instantaneous backwash flow

Backwash volume=backwash rate×backwash duration

Bed Fluidization Volume=filter media depth×filter media area

Bed Volumes per Backwash Event=Backwash Volume/Bed Volume

A comparison of typical filter configurations with systems and processesof the present disclosure (known under the trade designation AQUAPYR)was made based on clean media backwash volume estimates, and this datais presented in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Comparison of Backwash Efficiency Common Comparative Values BedLiquid Air Liquid Fuildization Backwash Cleanse Volume Bed Media VolumeRate Rate Backwash (inch{circumflex over ( )}3/ Volumes Filter Thicknessinch{circumflex over ( )}3/Sq. GPM/Sq. (CFM/sq. Duration Backwash/ PerType (inches) Ft. Area Ft. Media Ft. Media) (Seconds) sq. ft.) BackwashMultimedia 36 5184 15 0 1200 74484 14.37 (Sand) Submerged 0.375 54 1.250 60 342.75 6.35 (Pile Cloth 1) Submerged 0.25 36 1.25 0 60 324.75 9.02(Pile Cloth 2) AquaPyr Process 0.375 54 0 2.0+ 60 54 1.00 (Pile Cloth 1)AquaPyr Process 0.25 36 0 2.0+ 60 36 1.00 (Pile Cloth 2) AquaPyr Process0.04 5.76 0 2.0+ 60 5.76 1.00 (Non Pile Cloth ‘felt’)

As may be seen from the comparative data presented in Table 4, the wastevolume of systems and processes of the present disclosure will beminiscule compared to currently known filters and processes. Theconnected horse power is also going to be very low. The inventors hereinbelieve systems in accordance with this disclosure could be driven off avery small power arrangement (solar or wind power, for example) as thevacuum motors are very low power draw compared to the solids handlingpumps other filters use.

FIGS. 20-24 are photographs of illustrating visually some of thecapabilities of the ‘air cleansing’ used in systems and processes ofthis disclosure. FIG. 20 is a photograph of a portion of a drum filterwith pile media 75 showing an in situ cleanse test result. The pilemedia (70) was a fiber blend, 100% polyester, having a density of 2.25lbs., 10 micron nominal pore size, having an acrylic back coating. Thefinal pile height was 12/32 inch; the final length (parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the drum) was 62 inches minimum; the final oz.weight/lineal yard was 36 ozs; the final oz. weight/sq. yd. was 20.2ozs. FIG. 21 shows jar samples of filtrate (120, left), feed (122,center), and waste (124, right) from testing using the pile cloth mediashown in FIG. 20, where the filtrate was %99.98 and the waste was %0.02of the feed. FIGS. 22, 23, and 24 show the cloth pile media on a filterdrum, with FIG. 22 showing the media in fouled condition at 130, FIG. 23showing a left-hand portion 132 of the pile media after air cleaning anda right-hand portion 134 still fouled, and FIG. 24 showing the pilecloth media 136 after full air cleaning.

To get some idea of the improvement our systems and processes have interms of waste generation, we performed a test of our ‘cleanse volume’vs. what can be documented to be about 37 gallons for a small version ofa cloth media disk filter known under the trade designation AQUADISK(per BW event). We recognize that would probably improve on a largeversion of the AQUADISK down to about 8 gallons vs. this ˜⅓ gallon.However, even so this is still a large delta in our favor even usingconservative best numbers for the cloth media disk filter known underthe trade designation AQUADISK.

More specifically, we compared a cloth media disk filter known under thetrade designation AQUADISK for a 12 sq. ft. filter—1 minute backwashwith 6.7 gpm/sq. ft. volume=80 gallons. Our system comprised a 5.65 sq.ft. drum filter. At the same cleaning rate of 1 minute, we used 0.333gallons/5.65 sq. ft=0.06 gpm/sq. ft. This comparison showed a 100× plusreduction in waste volume (however, we recognize the AquaDisk® branddisk filter figures improve on larger filters somewhat). The comparisonpilot plant contained one cloth media disk filter known under the tradedesignation AQUADISK filter element in an 800 gallon filtration tank.The disk was 3 ft. in diameter and had an effective filtration area ofapproximately 12 ft². The disk was divided into two equal segments, eachcovered with a high-strength cloth media. For this study an acrylic pilefabric (MMK2-13) was tested. The media has a nominal pore size of 10 μmand the Title 22 approved peak hydraulic loading rate for the media is 6gpm/ft².

Pilot testing has revealed other advantages of systems and proceses ofthe present disclosure. For one, the cost effectiveness of the systemsand processes, and ability to scale into very small modules lends itselfto being able to ‘stack’ units in tight places with high through-putcapabilities. Currently known filters typically exceed ISO shippingcontainer dimensions. It is contemplated that certain system embodimentsin accordance with the present disclosure could employ a battery ofsmall modules (driven from a central wet dry vacuum system) that wouldallow for 4000+ gpm of filtration in single 40 ft. ISO shippingcontainer. Current offerings in the mobile treatment space do not exceed600 gpm. Another advantage we have learned is that we will be able toeliminate the influent weir that is required to operate multiple filtersin parallel in current cloth media filter designs (fully submerged).This is an expensive item in current filters and it is required tobalance flow distribution. In the partially submerged designs of thesystems of the present disclosure the feed will self-balance as liquidlevels increase and submerge more filter media—hence all filters inseries will act as a single unit vs. independently.

From the foregoing detailed description of specific embodiments, itshould be apparent that patentable systems, combinations, and processeshave been described. Although specific embodiments of the disclosurehave been described herein in some detail, this has been done solely forthe purposes of describing various features and aspects of the systemsand processes and is not intended to be limiting with respect to theirscope. It is contemplated that various substitutions, alterations,and/or modifications, including but not limited to those implementationvariations which may have been suggested herein, may be made to thedescribed embodiments without departing from the scope of the appendedclaims. For example, one modification would be to modify or retrofit anexisting water or wastewater treatment facility to include one or moresystems of this disclosure, or modify a fully submerged system to apartially submerged, wet/dry system. Certain systems and processes ofthis disclosure may be devoid of certain steps, components and/orfeatures: for example, systems devoid of filter disks; systems devoid ofexotic metals; systems devoid of low-strength steels; systems devoid ofthreaded fittings; systems devoid of welded fittings; processes devoidof a separation step upstream of the filter unit; processes devoid of apump in the effluent (filtrate) stream conuit of the filter unit.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water or wastewater filtration systemcomprising: a) a filter tank having a floor and sidewall defining afiltration zone, an influent conduit and an effluent conduit; b) one ormore filtration members positioned in the filter tank, the one or morefiltration members and the filter tank comprising a filter unit, each ofthe one or more filtration members comprising a filter media that may bethe same or different; c) one or more cleaning members positionedadjacent, or positionable adjacent, at least some portions of the filtermedia; d) the filter unit configured to produce, either bygravity-driven hydraulic head, one or more pumps, or both, an effluentstream by generating sufficient pressure differential across submergedportions of the filter media to force water from an influent water orwastewater composition to flow from outside to inside the submergedportions of the filter media and into the effluent conduit; e) a primemover (for example, wind, solar, electric motor, with a chain andsprocket configuration) for rotating the one or more filtration members;and f) a blower and chamber for creating a reduced pressure condition ineach of the one or more cleaning members when adjacent non-submergedportions of the filter media, the chamber configured to receive wetsolids removed from non-submerged, wet solids-laden portions of thefilter media by the one or more cleaning members subsequent tosubmerged, fouled portions of the filter media being rotated out of thefiltration zone.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or morefiltration members is a single drum filter.
 3. The system of claim 2wherein the one or more cleaning members is a single cleaning membercomprising a body having a length (L) and a width (W), the length (L) ofthe cleaning member corresponding substantially with a length of thedrum filter (DFL).
 4. The system of claim 2 wherein the one or morecleaning members comprises a set of cleaning members, each comprising abody having a length (Li) and a width (W), a first sub-set of the set ofcleaning members positioned so that their combined length correspondssubstantially with a length of the drum filter (DFL), and a secondsub-set of the plurality of cleaning members positioned behind the firstsub-set such that a length (L₂) of each of the second sub-set overlaps aposition where two of the first sub-set of cleaning members haveabutting ends.
 5. The system of claim 2 wherein the one or cleaningmembers comprises first and second cleaning members, each cleaningmember comprising a body having substantially same length (L) and awidth (W), the length (L) of the first and second cleaning memberscorresponding substantially with a length of the drum filter (DFL). 6.The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more filtration members is aplurality of filter disks.
 7. The system of claim 6 wherein the one ormore cleaning members comprises a first set of cleaning members, one ofthe first set of cleaning members positioned on a first side of each ofthe plurality of filter disks, and a second set of cleaning members, oneof the second set of cleaning members positioned on a second side ofeach of the plurality of filter disks.
 8. The system of claim 6 whereinthe one or more cleaning members comprises a first set of cleaningmembers, at least two of the first set of cleaning members positioned ona first side of each of the plurality of filter disks, and a second setof cleaning members, at least one of the second set of cleaning memberspositioned on a second side of each of the plurality of filter disks. 9.The system of claim 1 wherein each of the one or more cleaning membersis fluidly connected with the blower and chamber for creating thereduced pressure condition in each of the one or more non-submergedcleaning members by a cleaning conduit.
 10. The system of claim 1further comprising a cleaning composition supply vessel, a cleaningcomposition supply conduit fluidly connecting the cleaning compositionsupply vessel with a set of spray nozzles positioned to spray a cleaningcomposition onto at least some of the non-submerged portions of thefiltration members, and a cleaning composition supply valve in thecleaning composition supply conduit.
 11. A water or wastewaterfiltration system comprising: a) a filter tank having a floor andsidewall defining a filtration zone, an influent conduit and an effluentconduit; b) a filter drum having a filter drum length and radius, thefilter drum positioned in the filter tank, the filter drum and thefilter tank comprising a filter unit, the filter drum comprising afilter media; c) one or more cleaning members positioned adjacent, orpositionable adjacent, at least some portions of the filter media; d)the filter unit configured to produce, either by gravity-drivenhydraulic head, one or more pumps, or both, an effluent stream bygenerating sufficient pressure differential across submerged portions ofthe filter media to force water from an influent water or wastewatercomposition to flow from outside to inside the submerged portions of thefilter media and into the effluent conduit; e) a prime mover (forexample, wind, solar, electric motor, with a chain and sprocketconfiguration) for rotating the one or more filtration members; and f) ablower and chamber for creating a reduced pressure condition in each ofthe one or more cleaning members when adjacent non-submerged portions ofthe filter media, the chamber configured to receive wet solids removedfrom non-submerged, wet solids-laden portions of the filter media by theone or more cleaning members subsequent to submerged, fouled portions ofthe filter media being rotated out of the filtration zone.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11 wherein the length of the filter drum and the lengthof the filter tank are related by a ratio ranging from about 1:2 toabout 9:10.
 13. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more cleaningmembers is a single cleaning member comprising a body having a lengthand a width, the length of the cleaning member correspondingsubstantially with the width of the filter drum.
 14. A water orwastewater filtration system comprising: a) a filter tank having a floorand sidewall defining a filtration zone, an influent conduit and aneffluent conduit; b) one or more filter disks, each filter disk having awidth and a radius, the one or more filter disks positioned in thefilter tank, the one or more filter disks and the filter tank comprisinga filter unit, each of the one or more filter disks comprising a filtermedia that may be the same or different from disk to disk; c) one ormore cleaning members positioned adjacent, or positionable adjacent, atleast some portions of the filter media; d) the filter unit configuredto produce, either by gravity-driven hydraulic head, one or more pumps,or both, an effluent stream by generating sufficient pressuredifferential across submerged portions of the filter media to forcewater from an influent water or wastewater composition to flow fromoutside to inside the submerged portions of the filter media and intothe effluent conduit; e) a prime mover (for example, wind, solar,electric motor, with a chain and sprocket configuration) for rotatingthe one or more filter disks; and f) a blower and chamber for creating areduced pressure condition in each of the one or more cleaning memberswhen adjacent non-submerged portions of the filter media, the chamberconfigured to receive wet solids removed from non-submerged, wetsolids-laden portions of the filter media by the one or more cleaningmembers subsequent to submerged, fouled portions of the filter mediabeing rotated out of the filtration zone.
 15. The system of claim 14wherein the one or more cleaning members comprises a first set ofcleaning members, one of the first set of cleaning members of positionedon a first side of each of the one or more filter disks, and a secondset of cleaning members, one of the second set of cleaning members ofpositioned on a second side of each of the one or more filter disks. 16.The system of claim 14 wherein the one or more cleaning memberscomprises a first set of cleaning members, at least two of the first setof cleaning members of positioned on a first side of each of the one ormore filter disks, and a second set of cleaning members, at least one ofthe second set of cleaning members of positioned on a second side ofeach of the one or more filter disks.
 17. The system of claim 14 whereineach of the one or more filter disks has equal width and radius.
 18. Aprocess for treating water or wastewater using the system of claim 1,comprising: a) flowing an influent water composition comprising waterand solids into the filter tank; b) producing an effluent stream bygenerating a pressure differential across submerged portions of the oneor more filtration members, causing water in the influent watercomposition to flow from outside to inside the submerged portions of thefilter media of the one or more filtration members; c) rotating the oneor more filtration members so that wet, solids-laden submerged filtermedia portions of the one or more filtration members becomenon-submerged, wet, solids-laden filter media portions; and d) removingwet solids from at least some of the non-submerged, wet, solids-ladenfilter media portions by reducing pressure in the one or more cleaningmembers.
 19. A process for treating water or wastewater using the systemof claim 11, comprising: a) flowing an influent water compositioncomprising water and solids into the filter tank; b) producing aneffluent stream by generating a pressure differential across submergedportions of the filter media of the filter drum, causing water in theinfluent water composition to flow from outside to inside the submergedportions of the filter media; c) rotating the filter drum so that wet,solids-laden submerged portions of the filter media becomenon-submerged, wet, solids-laden filter media portions; and d) removingwet solids from the non-submerged, wet, solids-laden filter mediaportions by reducing pressure in the one or more cleaning members.
 20. Aprocess for treating water or wastewater using the system of claim 14,comprising: a) flowing an influent water composition comprising waterand solids into the filter tank; b) producing an effluent stream bygenerating a pressure differential across the submerged portions of theone or more filter disks, causing water in the influent watercomposition to flow from outside to inside submerged portions of thefilter media of the one or more filter disks; c) rotating the one ormore filter disks so that wet, solids-laden submerged filter mediaportions of the one or more filter disks become non-submerged, wet,solids-laden filter media portions; and d) removing wet solids from thenon-submerged, wet, solids-laden filter media portions by reducingpressure in the one or more cleaning members.